Valve seat puller



March 1959 A. F. OBERLEY ETAL 2,876,533

' VALVE SEAT PULLER Filed Dec. 24, 1954 ATTORNEY United States Patent VALVE SEAT PULLER Alton F. Oberley and Albert C. Darroch, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignors to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application December 24, 1954, Serial No. 477,486

3 Claims. (Cl. 29263) This invention relates to hand tools and more particularly to extractor tools for withdrawing or removing valve seat insert rings or the like from internal combustion engine parts such as cylinder heads and blocks in which they are placed.

It is a present day practice to provide hardened steel rings as valve seat inserts surrounding the valve ports of internal combustion engines. The insert rings are held in their operative position by a frictional or drive fit with the engine structure and are generally disposed within counterbores formed in the engine structure which serve as seats for the rings. Inasmuch as the insert rings become worn after a period of use and must be replaced and since they are rigidly held on their seats, it becomes necessary to exert a considerable amount of force to remove the defective insert rings. It is, therefore, the object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive, light weight and efiicient extractor tool for the removal of insert rings or the like from internal combustion engine structures.

The foregoing and other important objects and desirable features inherent in and encompassed by the invention together with many of the purposes and uses thereof, will become readily apparent from a reading of the ensuing description in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical fragmentary sectional view, with parts broken away, showing the relative position of the extractor tool as it is being inserted through the insert ring to be removed;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the extractor tube gripping the insert ring prior to dislodgment of the ring from its counterbore seat; and

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the components of the extractor tool.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters represent like elements throughout the various views, there is shown an extractor tool including a collet 10. The collet includes a circular disk-like hub 11 having a diameter less than the internal diameter of the insert ring 12 to be pulled so that it may readily pass through the ring. The peripheral surface 13 of the hub 11 is tapered as shown to facilitate guiding of the collet 10 through the insert ring 11. The insert ring 12 is rigidly supported in a counterbore 14 formed in an engine head structure 15', partially shown in Figures 1 and 2. Concentric with and spaced from the counterbore 14 is a valve stem guide or bushing 15 of conventional type.

The hub 11 is provided with a central threaded recess 16 therethrough into which an elongated threaded shank portion 17 of a spindle 18 is adapted to be screwed. The end of said spindle 18 opposite the threaded shank portion 17 is provided with an enlarged hexagonal head 19. The extractor tool further includes an abutment plug 20. The plug 20 comprises a plate 21 and a substantially centrally located, cylindrical projection 22 extending normally from one ,side of the plate 21. The free end of "ice the projection 22 is provided with a tapered tip portion 23. The projection 22 has a diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the valve guide 15 and is insertable in the bore 24 of the valve stem guide 15, as shown in Figure 1, to center the plug 20 and prevent transverse relative movement thereof with respect to the engine structure 15'. The surface of the plate 21 opposite the projection 22 is provided with a conical depression 25 for a purpose which will be explained hereinafter. As shown in the drawing, the surface of the plate 21 at the base of the projection 22 is provided with an annular groove 26 which has a radial width substantially greater than the radial thickness of the valve stem guide 15. Thus the raised peripheral portion 27, partially defined by the groove 26, is adapted to abut the engine structure encircling the valve stem guide end when in its operative position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2,

rather than directly on the valve stem guide 15 which would possibly result in damage thereto during the valve The conical depression seat insert removal operation. 25 serves as a seat against which thesemi-spherical end portion 28 of the spindle 18 abuts when the extractor tool is assembled on the engine structure, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The extractor tool includes an elongated, sleeve-like wrench member 29. The wrench member 29 is loosely mounted on the spindle 18 between the hub 11 and the spindle head 19. The outer contour of the wrench member 29 is hexagonal in shape and the end thereof adjacent the hub 11 is provided with a radially extending annular flange 30. Disposed on diametrically opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the wrench member 29 and projecting axially from the surface 31 are a pair of pins 32 which are rigidly secured to the flange 30. The pins 32 are adapted to be inserted in a pair of apertures 33 formed in the hub 11 whereby the wrench member .29 and the collet 10 are manually rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the spindle 18 as a unit by applying a coupling force on the wrench member.

Referring to the collet 10 in detail, it will be observed that a plurality of circumferentially spaced and integrally: formed spring fingers 34 extend longitudinally and radially from the hub 11. Each spring finger 34 includes a relatively thin flexible body portion 35 and a free end portion 36 provided with an outer groove 37. The radial wall 38 of the groove 37, and the outer wall 39 of the body portion 35 intersect at an acute angle to form a dog 40. The dogs 40, when the spring fingers 34 are in their normally relaxed positions, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, are contained in a circle having a diameter greater than the internal diameter of the valve insert ring 12. The radial thickness of the valve insert ring is generally greater than the radial dimension of the counterbore 14 to provide an exposed ledge 41. Stated in another way, the inside diameter of the valve insert ring 12 is generally slightly smaller than the port throat diameter to provide the annular ledge 41. Thus as the collet hub 11 is ad- 15. Thereafter the spring fingerstend to move radially outwardly to their relaxed positions until the longitudinal walls 42 of the groove 37 abut the inner surface 44 of the valve insert ring 12, as shown in Fig. 2. In this position of the spring fingers 34, the dogs 40 engage the protruding ledge 41 of the valve insert ring 12.

In operation, the plug 20 is inserted through the valve insert ring 12 to be removed and the projection 22 is caused to be disposed within the end of the valve stemv guide 15. The hubportion 11 of the collet 10 whichis partially threaded on the shank portion 17 of the spindle collet 10, are inserted in the apertures 33.

18 is advanced longitudinally through the valve insert ring 12 and continued longitudinal movement of the collet through the ring 12;"causes the spring fingers 34 to be forced to their retracted positions, as shown in Figure 1. As soon as the dogs 40 clear the innersurface 44 of the valve insert ring '12 the fingers 34 spring to their expanded relaxed positions Where the wedge-shaped dogs 40 are caused to engage'the ledge 41 of the valve insert ring 12. A wrench or other suitable means is then used to grasp the head portion 19 of the spindle 18 to rotate the same in a direction to cause the spindle 18 to move in a longitudinal direction with respect to the collet 10 until the semi-spherical end of the shank portion 17 is received in the conical depression 24 of the plate 21. The pins 32 of the wrench member 29, which is mounted on the spindle 18 between the head portion 19 and the Suitable means, such as a wrench or the like, is then used to grasp the wrench member 29 to rotate the same about the longitudinal axis of the spindle 18. Because of the positive pin connection between the wrench member 29 and the collet 10, such rotational movement of the wrench member is transmitted to the collet to effect rotational movement of the collet 10 and the spindle 18 with the wrench member 29 as a unit. Since the wedge-shaped dogs 40 are disposed in the area of the ledge 41, oftentimes because of carbon deposits upon the annular ledge 41 the radial face 45 cannot seat properly upon the ledge. Thus, when the collet 10 is rotated by means of the wrench member 29, the sharp dogs 40 cut into and dislodge the carbon deposits and since the spring fingers 34 are esiliently urged radially outwardly, continually, the dogs 40 tend to clean a sufiicient portion of the ledge 41upon which the radial faces 45 of the dogs can firmly bear against. Thereafter, in order to efiect an upward longitudinal pull on the collet '10 to dislodge the valve insert ring 12 from the c'ounterbore 14, as viewed in Figure 2, the spindle 18 is rotatedin a direction to force the collet 10 upwardly. Inasmuch as the semi-spherical end portion of the spindle 18 bears against the conical depression 25 of the plug 20, the spindle 18 is free to rotate but is prevented from moving longitudinally with respect to the plug and consequently because of the frictional engagement of the dogs 40 with the valve insert ring 12, the collet 10 is constrained from rotating with the spindle but is free to move longitudinally with respect thereto. Continued raising of the collet 10 by rotation of the spindle 18 will withdraw the insert ring 12 from the engine structure The embodiment of the invention chosen for the purposes of illustration and description herein is that preferred as a result of selective tests based upon the requirement for achieving the objects of the invention and developing the utility thereof in the most desirable manner, due regard being bad to existing factors of economy, simplicity of design and construction, and the improvements sought to be efiected. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the particular structural and functional aspects emphasized herein are not intended to exclude, but rather to suggest, such other adaptations and modifications of invention as 'fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An extracting tool forvremoving a valve seat insert ring or the like from an engine structure in which the insert ring is mounted, said engine structure also supporting a valve stem guide having one end thereof longi tudinally spaced and coaxially disposed with respect to said insert ring, comprising: a plug including a plate having an annular raised portion on one surface thereof adapted to abut the engine structure encircling one end of the valve stem guide and a substantially centrally located projection extending longitudinally from the plate adapted to be inserted in said valve stem guide, said plate '4 having a centrally located conical depression in the surface thereof opposite said raised annular surface; a longitudinally disposed spindle having a head on one end and a threaded shank portion on its opposite end adapted to extend through the insert ring, the end of said spindle opposite said head adapted to be seated in said conical depression; a collet threaded on the threaded shank portion of said spindle adapted to pass through the insert ring to be pulled and be longitudinally spaced between the insert ring and the valve stem guide, said collet including a circular hub having a diameter less than the inner diameter of the insert ring and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, integrally formed spring fingers extending radially outwardly from said hub and longitudinally toward the head of said spindle; a wedge-shaped dog formed on the free end of each spring finger having a radial surface, said dogs normally assuming expanded positions radially outwardly of said hub wherein the outer marginal edges of said radial surfaces are yieldably urged to lie in a circle having a diameter greater than the 'inner diameter of the insert ring and the radial surfaces are adapted to abut a radial surface of the insert ring, said dogs being movable radially inwardly with respect to said hub from their expanded positions wherein the outer marginal edges of said radial surfaces lie in a circle substantially equal to the inner diameter of the insertring to permit insertion of the collet between the insert ring and the valve stem guide; and means for effecting rotation of said collet and spindle in unison including a sleeve-like wrench member encircling said spindle and disposed between said spindle head and said hub, and means for selectively connecting said wrench member to said hub whereby rotation of said wrench member effects rotation of said collet and spindle.

2. An extracting tool substantially as set forth in claim 1, in which, said hub is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending apertures in one surface thereof disposed on diametrically opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of said spindle; and said means for selectively connecting said wrench member to said hub whereby rotation of said wrench member effects rotation of said collet and spindle includes a pair of longitudinally extending pins fixed to and projecting longitudinally from said wrench member adapted to be inserted into said hub apertures to provide a rotational drive connection between said wrench member and said collet.

3. An extractor tool for removing a valve seat insert ring or the like from an engine structure in which it is mounted, said valve seat insert ring being longitudinally spaced and coaxially disposed with respect to one end of a valve stem guide mounted in said engine structure, comprising: a bridge forming element mounted on the end of said valve stem guide having a portion thereof adapted to bear on the engine structure portion surroundingsaid valve stem guide end; an elongated spindle having a threaded portion adapted to extend longitudinally through the insert ring, one end of said spindle being adapted to bear against said bridge forming element; a collet adapted to pass through the insert ring to be pulled and be positioned between the insert ring and the valve stem guide, said collet including a hub having a central longitudinally extending threaded aperture therethrough in which said threaded shank portion of said spindle is threaded, said collet including a plurality of circumferentially spaced dogs integrally formed with said hub, said dogs being resiliently urged radially outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of said spindle and being longitudinally spaced between said hub and the end of said spindle opposite the end thereof bearing against said bridge forming element, said dOgs being adapted to engage an inner surface of the insert ring, said dogs being wedge-shaped and are each provided with a sharp marginal edge; and means for effecting rotation of said spindle and collet in unison including a sleeve-like wrench member loosely encircling said/spindle; and means for 1,776,776 Blackmo'u'r Sept. 30, 1930 sclectivcly connecting said wrench member to said hub. 1,962,289 Weldon June 12, 1934 2,305,076 Graham Dec. 15, 1942 References Cited m h l f his p n 2,380,980 Looney Aug. 7, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,646,619 Mccorq July 28, 1953 74 543 s h Dec 24 1907 P 1 1955 1,587,153 Hendrickson June 1, 1926 

